The cast of Hugo, including Asa Butterfield, Chloe Grace Moretz, Sir Ben Kingsley, Helen McCrory, Frances de la Tour and Richard Griffiths made the trip, along with director Martin Scorsese, to London to screen the film for Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall, on Monday night, November 28.

Helen McCrory brought along her lovely husband, Damian Lewis. (They are one of my favorite couples. Is it odd that I have favorite couples?) Sir Ben was accompanied by his statuesque wife Daniella. Speaking of statuesque, when I first looked at that pic at the top of the post, I thought Chloe Moretz had to be standing on a box. No, Martin Scorsese is just that short.  Mr. Scorsese had his family with him, including wife Helen and their daughter Francesca, who “inspired” the movie. After his wife and daughter read the book, “The Invention of Hugo Cabret” by Brian Selznick, they both ‘begged’ him to film it, so that he would finally have made a movie his daughter could see. It was also Francesca’s idea for it to be filmed in 3D. If you haven’t seen it, you’re missing out. It’s stunning.

Also at the after-party were Kate Hudson, (stick thin again after giving birth a mere two months ago), Rod Stewart and his latest family, some girl group called Little Mix (who looked a lot out of place), Brian May (I think it is so cool that he never cut his hair. Don’t ask me why) and a British tv star called Ben Fogle, who is very cute…oh and his wife. Enjoy the pics!

Have I mentioned how fond I am of alliteration? Anyway, another sign of the big movie season is all of the filmmakers out making the rounds on press junkets, promoting their wares. In New York, in just the past two days, we had Gary Oldman and Colin Firth, as well as director Tomas Alfredson, from Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Chloe Grace Moretz, Ben Kingsley and Asa Butterfield from Hugo and Mark Wahlburg from Contraband, all sitting for the press conferences and having their pictures taken. Yay for us!

I’m a little disappointed Mark Strong didn’t make it to New York for the press conference, but he is expected to participate in the Variety Screening Q & A for Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy on December 7. I am thankful (on this the appropriate day for such things) that Colin Firth made the trip. I don’t need an excuse to look at pics of Mr. Firth. Is it my imagination or is Gary Oldman, the older he gets, losing the creepy and becoming oddly sexy?

I saw Hugo today and am completely in love with it, so I’m happy to have the opportunity to post pics of its three stars as well as director Martin Scorsese and mention it again. It’s a pure delight. I can’t recommend it highly enough.

Marky Mark is already working hard to promote his new crime drama, Contraband. We’ve shown you a couple of trailers and some pics from thefilm which stars Wahlburg, Kate Beckinsale, Giovanni Ribisi and Ben Foster. The film opens in January.  Enjoy the pics!

Sir Ben Kingsley received his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame yesterday with his wife Daniela Lavender by his side as well as pal Bruce Willis and Jerry Bruckheimer.

Ben said of receiving the 2410th star:

“Dear friends, standing here today amongst you is one of the many things I thought growing up in England that would never happen to me – and it has and I’m thrilled.”

Pictures after the break

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Four films together and 10 years later, Leonardo DiCaprio and Martin Scorcese present their latest project Shutter Island at the Berlin Film Festival yesterday.  The two were joined by Sir Ben Kingsley, Michelle Williams and Mark Ruffalo on the red carpet.

At a press conference for the film, Leonardo said of the pairing:

“Each experience has been unique. It’s been a progression, now it’s been 10 years” “the biggest gift that he’s given me is an appreciation for cinema and cinema’s history, and an entirely new perspective on my view of this art form.”

“I grew up on his work, really,” “As a younger actor, you’d be a fool not to jump at the opportunity to work with somebody who I consider and many consider the definitive director of our time.”

Martin said of working with Leonardo:

“Trust is really the key” and was built up over time, Scorsese said, adding that they “really reached a kind of comradeship in ‘The Departed.’”

“I see him as a young man developing as a wonderful actor,” he said. “I’m very happy to be around when this is happening with somebody with such extraordinary talent, to be able to focus that and perfect it.“

According to imdb the movie is a:

Drama is set in 1954, U.S. Marshal Teddy Daniels is investigating the disappearance of a murderess who escaped from a hospital for the criminally insane and is presumed to be hiding on the remote Shutter Island

And if you still need a Leo fix, do not worry, he has four movies in the works with 27 in development!!

Pictures after the break

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George Clooney takes his lovely new lady Elisabetta Canalis to The Times BFI London Film Festival: Fantastic Mr Fox opening gala at the Odeon Leicester Square.  And perhaps he is ready to settle down with having some kids:

“I am planning to adopt. I am going to adopt some of Brad Pitt’s kids. I owe him.”

Even one kid running around my villa makes me nervous, so I’m definitely not a candidate for father of the year. If I need to surround myself with children and feel like I have this big extended family, I can always call Brad and Angelina and ask them to stay with me, just to remind myself why I’m so happy.”

At least he’s honest?  Also attending the premiere:

• Jason Schwartzman
• Jonathan Ross
• Sir Ben Kingsley
• Bill Murray
• Jennifer Tilley
• Cindy Crawford
• Thandie Newton
• Sophie Dahl
•  Jamie Cullen
• John Hurt
• David Morrissey

Pictures after the break

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